The Willow Glen Resident

Grade-schoolers learn an early lesson in budgeting

Pseudo mall teaches Schallenberger kids how to shop wisely

By Cecily Barnes

Back when ice cream cones cost 10 cents and kids walked miles in the snow to get to school, holiday season in the classroom meant hundreds of kids churning out paper snowflakes, Styrofoam ornaments and plenty of Christmas-tree drawings. Not anymore.

In today's economy-driven society, some elementary schools are beginning lessons in holiday money management as early as kindergarten. Schallenberger Elementary School has expanded its holiday curriculum to include Christmas shopping on campus at a pseudo gift shop dubbed Candy Cane Lane.

"What we're trying to do is have a place where the kids can go and purchase gifts without their parents being involved," said Nancy McCollum, chairperson for Candy Cane Lane. "It's a budgeting lesson, and it's a fun place to go where they get to buy gifts for themselves, their parents and their friends."

Parent volunteers have spent the last two months thumbing through Christmas catalogs and ordering a host of inexpensive gifts such as key chains, jewelry, little toy cars, beanie babies, games and picture frames. To keep the things affordable for elementary school kids, most items are under $3 and none are over $5.

"Kids can go in with a quarter and still buy some stuff," Schallenberger's Home and School Club president Marci Cremer said. "The [price] range is really inexpensive."

The day before Candy Cane Lane opens for business, kids are led through the "store" to preview the merchandise.

"It's adorable to see their faces," Cremer said. "They take it very seriously. They get so excited and say, 'My mom would love this,' or 'My brother would love that.' "

Kids come to school the next day with anywhere from $1 to $20 for shopping. Candy Cane Lane opens for one classroom at a time Dec. 3-5. Parent volunteers who staff the shop report that gifts for Dad are the No. 1 sellers.

"We try to have a lot of dad things because the kids really like to buy dad stuff there," McCollum said. "We also sell a lot of personalized things, like key rings that say 'I love Mom.' "

Although Candy Cane Lane is a huge hit, Schallenberger teachers continue to teach traditional holiday activities as well, pulling out plastic scissors, construction paper, paint, glue, pencils and Styrofoam.

"Teachers are still really creative in the projects they do with the kids," Cremer said. "Candy Cane Lane is really just a supplemental thing that we do for the kids. It's really exciting for them to be able to surprise their parents, and it's a good lesson in money management."

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